Dewitt Community Center Programs

We are finally here! The Dewitt Community Center will open its doors July 9, 2018 . The hours of operations are Monday - Friday: 10 AM - 8 PM, Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM and Sunday: Closed. Both the Timothy Smith Network technology lab and Ellis Memorial Summer program are located in the center and provide programming for members. Learn more about these programs below. Also, a new web page and brochure detailing all of the center's programs and information will be coming soon.

 

The Ellis Memorial summer program operates Monday through Friday: 8 AM - 6 PM. They are in session July 2nd - August 31st. They offer literacy and math enrichment activities every morning and daily field trips in the afternoon. Their field trips include visits to museums, parks, pools, beaches, science and nature centers, libraries and much more. They also have partnerships with Haley House, Tenacity, Einc, and the South End library. All students receive breakfast, lunch, and snack at no cost to families. For more information or to enroll in the program, contact Meisha Reece at 617-426-2900 or meishareece@ellismemorial.org.

 

The Timothy Smith Network technology center operates Monday - Friday: 10 AM - 8 PM and Saturday: 12 PM - 5 PM. Their curriculum is designed to answer the many needs of the diverse people they serve at the Dewitt Center. They provide students with technology training that creates pathways for them to higher education or well-paying jobs in the burgeoning tech industry. To that end, the TSTL offers innovative workshops and trainings catered to innovators, design creators and entrepreneurs. For those who just want to learn about technology, the TSTL offers programs to help them become and stay tech literate, which is a must in a world that is increasingly reliant upon technology. For more information about the TSTL, contact the program manager Leah Samura at lsamura@timothysmithnetwork.org.

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

Since April, more than 125 of Boston’s youth interviewed for youth leadership positions in our Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Now that the school year has come to a close, MPDC’s Youth Workforce (YW) team will place close to 75 youth in more than 35 employment sites in the city. Just last week, staff wrapped up its Workforce Academy Training session—which is an intensive, unique two-week training program in both soft and hard professional skills development — awarding certificates to the young leaders. In addition to ongoing training and development, youth will work alongside mentors in jobs at Boston Medical Center, Soleil Restaurant, Yawkey Boys and Girls Club and other local restaurants, summer camps and non-profit organizations while staying engaged and employed throughout the summer.

More than 200 MPDC, Roxbury residents and children attended and enjoyed food, fun and music at the MPDC's 3rd annual Unity Day held at Madison Park Village on June 23rd. Our partners, resident leaders and staff provided information about financial wellness, education/ literacy, physical and emotional well-being and civic engagement. BEST Hospitality Training, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Timothy Smith Network, The Clubhouse Network, T1 Basketball Program, TUFF Group, Inc., provided program information and interactive learning experiences. A special thanks to the many volunteers including the MPDC Organizing Committee, Winn Management RSCs, Orchard Gardens Resident Association, the MPDC Peer Health Leaders, and VIP Block Captains who provided a welcoming environment for residents of all ages. Our younger residents enjoyed face painting, arts and crafts activities and of course the bouncy houses! Jammin Joe Johnson provided a great variety of music. MPDC board members and elected officials (State Representative Byron Rushing, Roxbury City Councilor Kim Janey) shared Roxbury history and pride with residents. Thank you to the MPDC youth leaders who assisted from set-up to clean-up. We appreciate NeighborWorks America, M. Mitchell and M. Fernandez, our major funder, for stopping by to celebrate national NeighborWorks.

2nd Annual Garden Tea Party in the Hope Community Garden

MPDC’s Health & Wellness Team held its 2nd Annual Tea Party event in the Garden at Hope Community Garden in Roxbury located near Madison Park Vocation Technical High School. The event is one of many to kick-off MPDC’s garden season and summer healthy food access programming. More than 25 Roxbury and MPDC residents gathered to celebrate the start of a summer focused on decreasing challenges with their health and eating healthy. The Tea Party provided an opportunity to increase social cohesion and decrease social isolation. The main highlight of the event was the hat competition that encouraged attendees to wear unique ornate hats.

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